Iran to start delayed trial of three US 'spies'

TEHRAN: Iran is on Sunday to put on trial three young Americans accused of spying against the Islamic republic, dismissing repeated pleas by arch-foe the United States for their release. The trial of Sarah Shourd, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal comes at a time when anti-American rhetoric is at fever pitch in Iran as it marks the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution which toppled the US-backed shah. It also coincides with heightening animosity between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear drive, a dispute punctuated by UN sanctions and strident remarks from hardline President Mahmud Ahmadinejad. Masoud Shafii, the trio's lawyer, confirmed to AFP that the trial will start on Sunday and he was ready to defend them. The trial was initially set for November 6 but later postponed to February 6 over issues concerning summoning of Shourd who was released on September 14 on ...